Britain's Prince Philip passes away at 99

London: Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip has died , the Buckingham Palace said on Friday. The Duke of Edinburgh, the longest servi...

London: Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip has died , the Buckingham Palace said on Friday. The Duke of Edinburgh, the longest serving royal consort in British history had been by his wife's side throughout her 69-year reign.

"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," the palace said in a statement. "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

Philip had spent four weeks in hospital earlier this year for treatment for an infection to have a heart procedure, but returned to Windsor in early March.

Flags were lowered to half-mast on royal and government buildings and a notice announcing his death pinned to the gates of Buckingham Palace.

"We give thanks, as a nation and a kingdom, for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said outside 10 Downing Street.

A Greek prince, Philip married Elizabeth his third cousin in 1947. "He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years," Elizabeth said in a rare personal tribute to Philip, made in a speech marking their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997

They had four children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Princes Andrew and Prince Edward.

The former naval officer admitted he found it hard to give up the military career he loved and to take on the job as the monarch's consort for which there was no clear-cut constitutional role.

After completing more than 22,000 solo appearances, Philip retired from public life in August 2017, although he occasional appeared at official engagements.

His last appearance was in last July at a military ceremony at Windsor Castle where he and the monarch were living during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

His death came just months before his 100th birthday in June.

(Agencies)